Pesticide Poisoning: A new study has revealed that over 70 percent of wild bee species, crucial for pollinating food crops, face alarming risks from pesticide residues in soil.
What is Pesticide Poisoning?
Pesticides are substances or mixtures that prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate pests.
Pests can include insects, rodents, fungi, weeds, and other organisms that can negatively impact agriculture.
Pesticides are commonly used in agriculture to protect crops from pests and increase yields.
The main categories of Pesticide Poisoning include:
Insecticides: Designed to control or kill insects.
Herbicides: Used to control or eliminate unwanted plants (weeds).
Fungicides: Target fungi and prevent or control fungal diseases.
Rodenticides: Designed to control rodents, such as mice and rats.
Bactericides and Virucides: Target bacteria and viruses, respectively.
Nematicides: Control nematodes, which are microscopic worms that can damage plant roots.
Concerns with Use Pesticide
Health Risks: Pesticide exposure poses serious health risks to farmers, and communities living in close proximity to agricultural areas.
Environmental Impact: Runoff from fields treated with pesticides contaminate water sources, leading to water pollution.
Residue in Food: Residues of pesticides remain on crops and find their way into the food supply.
Impact on Non-Target Organisms: Beneficial insects, pollinators, and natural predators can be harmed by pesticide applications, disrupting ecosystems and agricultural sustainability.
Resistant Pests: Over time, pests can develop resistance to certain pesticides, rendering them less effective.
Regulation of Pesticides in India
Insecticide Act, 1968: Pesticides are regulated by the Ministry of Agriculture through the Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee (CIB & RC) constituted under the Insecticide Act, 1968.
FSSAI aligns with the updated standards of maximum residue limit (MRL) (pesticides 0.01 milligrammes per kilogramme (mg / kg) to 0.1 mg / kg in herbs) set by Codex Alimentarius Commission (an International Food Safety and Quality Standard setting body created by WHO and FAO of UN) and the European Union.
Anupam Verma Committee: It was constituted by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare to review 66 pesticides that are banned/restricted in other countries but continue to be registered for use in India.
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